Read Online Lover of My Dreams by Lynnette Bernard - Free Book Online
Authors: Lynnette Bernard
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feeling of claustrophobia left her as she exited the cab, and she was glad to feel the cool night breeze against her face as she looked around to take in the romantic surroundings. She smiled as she looked up at the lit archways in front of her. She felt as if she were entering a magical place—a place that promised its patrons a night of enchantment.
Richard took her hand in his and led the way up the gangplank. Rachel followed, tucking her purse under her arm and looking out across the East River to the Manhattan skyline as she walked. It was beautiful. It was a view that she could never forget or take for granted because it meant so much to her. New York City had changed her from an aspiring writer to a successful novelist with endless potential.
Tonight she felt special and pretty. She looked both seductive and elegant in the peach chiffon dress that bared one shoulder. She loved the softness of the dress as it swirled around her knees. She especially loved how feminine it made her feel. The gold chain that she wore sparkled under the twinkling lights, and she touched it absentmindedly as she often did to ensure that the treasure was safely tucked away inside the angled neckline of her dress. She never removed the gift that Joanna McCoy had given her.
Delicate, gold high-heeled sandals and a petite gold purse completed her outfit, making her feel beautiful and special. She took a deep breath and sighed with happiness at the excitement of their night out and couldn’t help but smile as Richard tugged at her hand with impatience to lead the way up the gangplank.
She watched him silently as he held himself so proudly and announced his name to the maître d’. She admired his tailored black suit. It perfectly complemented his slender physique, accented his tanned blondness, and exemplified his attention to style.
Once their reservations were confirmed, she followed him into the dining room and sat facing the wall of windows that displayed the South Street Seaport. She sat in the wicker chair offered to her and waited silently as Richard ordered a bottle of Cristal in a no-nonsense tone of voice.
“Sounds like you’re ready to celebrate,” Rachel teased him. “Can you afford a bottle of Cristal ?”
Richard smiled across at her and reached out to take her hand in his. “No, but you can,” he told her quietly, smiling slightly and winking playfully as he spoke.
Rachel hesitated briefly then smiled back at him. She didn’t know what to say. She supposed she shouldn’t say anything. She removed her hand from his, picked up her menu and looked down at it to avert her eyes from his. Her throat had suddenly turned very dry, and she couldn’t quite focus on the menu before her.
“I’ll order for us,” Richard told her, smiling, unaware of the turmoil that he was causing.
Rachel nodded slightly, all previous excitement for the evening dampened by the sudden feeling of suffocation that she felt. She sat back in her seat and viewed Richard coolly. Other memories of previous evenings out suddenly came to mind. He always seemed to be short on cash or would often remind her that she had plenty of money and should be helping him out.
Joanna McCoy’s advice echoed in her head, reminding her to keep her dignity and demand respect. Those strong memories of a time not so long ago with people who cared about her made her straighten her spine and gain her composure. Once again, her thoughts turned to her memories of Joanna McCoy, her Aunt Kay, Roy, and Sam. As always, the memories were bittersweet.
She had to mentally shake herself. With effort, she put aside her thoughts so that she could try to get through the evening and be realistic about her relationship with Richard. She sadly admitted to herself that it had been a relationship that was based purely on her own fantasy—her fantasy of finding someone to share her life with.
She watched Richard silently as he took great joy in ordering their meal from appetizer
Richard took her hand in his and led the way up the gangplank. Rachel followed, tucking her purse under her arm and looking out across the East River to the Manhattan skyline as she walked. It was beautiful. It was a view that she could never forget or take for granted because it meant so much to her. New York City had changed her from an aspiring writer to a successful novelist with endless potential.
Tonight she felt special and pretty. She looked both seductive and elegant in the peach chiffon dress that bared one shoulder. She loved the softness of the dress as it swirled around her knees. She especially loved how feminine it made her feel. The gold chain that she wore sparkled under the twinkling lights, and she touched it absentmindedly as she often did to ensure that the treasure was safely tucked away inside the angled neckline of her dress. She never removed the gift that Joanna McCoy had given her.
Delicate, gold high-heeled sandals and a petite gold purse completed her outfit, making her feel beautiful and special. She took a deep breath and sighed with happiness at the excitement of their night out and couldn’t help but smile as Richard tugged at her hand with impatience to lead the way up the gangplank.
She watched him silently as he held himself so proudly and announced his name to the maître d’. She admired his tailored black suit. It perfectly complemented his slender physique, accented his tanned blondness, and exemplified his attention to style.
Once their reservations were confirmed, she followed him into the dining room and sat facing the wall of windows that displayed the South Street Seaport. She sat in the wicker chair offered to her and waited silently as Richard ordered a bottle of Cristal in a no-nonsense tone of voice.
“Sounds like you’re ready to celebrate,” Rachel teased him. “Can you afford a bottle of Cristal ?”
Richard smiled across at her and reached out to take her hand in his. “No, but you can,” he told her quietly, smiling slightly and winking playfully as he spoke.
Rachel hesitated briefly then smiled back at him. She didn’t know what to say. She supposed she shouldn’t say anything. She removed her hand from his, picked up her menu and looked down at it to avert her eyes from his. Her throat had suddenly turned very dry, and she couldn’t quite focus on the menu before her.
“I’ll order for us,” Richard told her, smiling, unaware of the turmoil that he was causing.
Rachel nodded slightly, all previous excitement for the evening dampened by the sudden feeling of suffocation that she felt. She sat back in her seat and viewed Richard coolly. Other memories of previous evenings out suddenly came to mind. He always seemed to be short on cash or would often remind her that she had plenty of money and should be helping him out.
Joanna McCoy’s advice echoed in her head, reminding her to keep her dignity and demand respect. Those strong memories of a time not so long ago with people who cared about her made her straighten her spine and gain her composure. Once again, her thoughts turned to her memories of Joanna McCoy, her Aunt Kay, Roy, and Sam. As always, the memories were bittersweet.
She had to mentally shake herself. With effort, she put aside her thoughts so that she could try to get through the evening and be realistic about her relationship with Richard. She sadly admitted to herself that it had been a relationship that was based purely on her own fantasy—her fantasy of finding someone to share her life with.
She watched Richard silently as he took great joy in ordering their meal from appetizer
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